An Address Before the Detroit Young Men's Society, Delivered by Request, April, 1848.
Detroit: Printed by Garrett & Geiger, 1849. First edition. 8vo, original printed wrappers, 23 pages. Wrappers somewhat soiled; some light staining and foxing throughout; a very good copy. Item #15596
The New England transplant and early Michigan Whig (the state's second governor and a friend of Lewis Cass) here in his retirement makes an address on the peculiar genius and industry of New England settlers in Michigan; he includes an anecdote of the arrival of steam travel in Detroit: "Very early in the same morning, and long before my ordinary time of rising, I was startled by a violent and continued knocking at my door. Dressing myself very hastily, I went to see what terrible thing had happened. It was my old and polite acquaintance, Mons. Tremblé, living somewhere along the mouth of Huron, now 'Clinton' river. Scarcely allowing himself time for that courteous salutation which Frenchmen, (God bless them!) *never forget;* and in a condition of undisguised agitation, he burst into an exclamation that 'the world was coming to an end!' I *thought* he spoke distinctly: I *thought* I heard him clearly: but I could not comprehend him! 'Plait il Monsieur?' I said to him; and he repeated his affirmation--'Voila la fin du monde'--he said, 'que s'approche; et bien tot tout sera detruit!' He was not drunk, I thought; he did not appear like a crazy man. I could not believe that *I* was either the one or the other; and feeling that it was *my* turn to be astonished, I again asked him what he said? what he meant? A third time he repeated his assertion, but in conclusion he went on the remark, that 'now you and I see vessels driven with violence by *fire* through the water. Soon they will be hurled through the air also by fire. You and I may probably both live to see these things; and then all things will melt with fervent heat, and the world will be burnt up! The priests told him so--the Holy Bible says it!' The mystery was solved, he had seen the steamboat!" With further praise for the virtues of public school districts and township government. Also include a lengthy note on the Revolutionary epic M'Fingal, which was written by Woodbridge's father-in-law, John Trumbull. American Imprints Inventory (Michigan) 830.
Price: $200.00